Stacy
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/15/02
Posts: 245
Loc: USA
|
|
I hope they make an example of him.
I noticed how "his" life was ruined, at least he is still living and breathing. 
|
MrOrange
Enthusiast
Reged: 12/18/01
Posts: 261
Loc: West
|
|
The Lawsuit is going through:
Family sues Chandler over fatal police shooting at pharmacy
Patricia Biggs
The Arizona Republic
Aug. 25, 2003 03:55 PM
The family of an Ahwatukee Foothills woman shot to death last year by a Chandler police officer filed a lawsuit Monday against the officer, city and its former police chief.
The lawsuit, filed in Maricopa County Superior Court, seeks unspecified damages from former Chandler police Officer Dan Lovelace for assault, battery and gross negligence. It also seeks damages from then-Chief Bobby Joe Harris and the city for negligence.
John "Colby" Nelson described his late wife, Dawn Rae Nelson, as "an incredible woman, a loving wife."
"I still can't believe what happened to Dawn," he said Monday in his attorneys' office.
The 35-year-old woman was fatally shot on Oct. 11 by Lovelace, who had responded to a drive-through pharmacy where Dawn Nelson was accused of trying to forge a prescription.
Lovelace said he fired in self-defense after Nelson drove her Chevrolet Camaro toward him. But three witnesses reported Lovelace ran after the Camaro and shot Nelson from behind, an account backed up by a noted shooting reconstructionist.
Chandler fired Lovelace and the Maricopa County Attorney's Office filed second-degree murder and endangerment charges. Lovelace has a preliminary hearing Sept. 22 in front of Superior Court Judge James Keppel.
Attorney Patrick McGroder, who represents Colby Nelson and Dawn's parents and children, said the lawsuit will prove that Lovelace abused his authority, used unjustifiable deadly force and lied about the facts.
Attorney Craig Mehrens, who is representing Lovelace in the criminal matter, said it's too easy to look back and say what should have happened.
"I don't see it as the Nelson family and their lawyers see it. I think this is a clearly justified, tragic incident," Mehrens said.
|
Anonymous
Unregistered
|
|
Quote:
I hope they make an example of him.
I noticed how "his" life was ruined, at least he is still living and breathing.
Unfortunately it is never really an example. Loathsome though he may be, what ever happens to him will have little or no effect on how law enforcement officers (LEO's) conduct their professional duties. Forty years after Miranda, there is still no closure on Miranda warnngs. LEO's will continue to shoot people and claim evasion. Until the judiciary (what a joke!) actually gives some clear instructions, it will be open season on a hispanics, blacks, and poor whites driving 70's vintage american cars. Have a nice day!
|
IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 860
Loc: usa
|
|
The saddest thing about this is this poor woman, living in an upscale neighborhood (I live in awhatukee) could have ordered all the soma she needed from imported drugs.com and would still be alive today! How could she have completely missed the fact this drug is readily available via OP's??? Boggles my mind!
|
MrOrange
Enthusiast
Reged: 12/18/01
Posts: 261
Loc: West
|
|
Justice has been served!
Chandler pays $2 mil in lawsuit
City OKs record settlement in officer's killing of woman
Edythe Jensen
The Arizona Republic
Nov. 27, 2003 12:00 AM
Chandler will pay the largest taxpayer-funded settlement in city history to the family of an Ahwatukee Foothills mother shot to death by former police Officer Daniel Lovelace.
Bob Boatman, attorney for the family of Dawn Rae Nelson, confirmed Wednesday that an out-of-court settlement has been reached, but the amount is confidential. The city's portion, $1.94 million, is nearly double the highest previous amounts because Chandler raised its insurance deductible to $2 million last year. The remaining $60,000 of the deductible has been spent on legal expenses, city officials said.
Nelson, 35, was shot to death Oct. 11, 2002, by Lovelace after, officials say, she attempted to fill a forged prescription at a Walgreens drugstore drive-through. Her 14-month-old son was in the back seat.
Lovelace, 39, faces a preliminary hearing in Superior Court on Dec. 9 on second-degree murder charges. He contends that Nelson was driving toward him and that he fired in self-defense. Chandler Law Enforcement Association President Dave LeVoy said the union backs Lovelace and is funding his defense.
But three witnesses reported that Lovelace ran after the woman's car and shot her from behind. A shooting reconstructionist backed their accounts.
The U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation of Lovelace's conduct, said Harriet Bernick, spokeswoman for the U.S. Attorney's Office. She declined to answer questions about that investigation.
Lovelace's actions in another case cost Chandler $1 million last year. That was the city's portion of a $1.4 million settlement with the mother of Bradley Downing III, 18, who was killed March 13, 2000, when a stolen pickup truck pursued by Lovelace in a high-speed chase crashed into Downing's car at McQueen and Warner roads.
|
IMSUSCOT1
Threadhead
Reged: 10/23/02
Posts: 860
Loc: usa
|
|
You'd be amazed at the cowboys on the radio who are outraged by this decision....while they always say this is "tragic" for the woman AND the 18month old beside her in the car, they want to know what will be done for the poor cop who was nearly "run over" and thus, "had no choice but to shoot"...course they don't ever get into the forensics that showed the trajectory of the wound coming from BEHIND her.....
|
Stacy
Enthusiast
Reged: 11/15/02
Posts: 245
Loc: USA
|
|
Oh please! How can they ignore forensics? This one cop has cost the city a lot of money.
I hope he rots in jail.
|
Ocean
Member
Reged: 04/20/03
Posts: 137
Loc: Outside of New York City
|
|
Quote:
But three witnesses reported that Lovelace ran after the woman's car and shot her from behind. A shooting reconstructionist backed their accounts.
OMG! Where have I been? This is the first I am hearing of this finding... The story was bad enough before this new development but THIS is murder... Plain and simple... 
--------------------
Such a long, long time to be gone... And a short time to be there...
|
Previous
Index
Next
Threaded
Edit 
Reply 
Quote 
